Youth Action for Decent Work

Today discussions about concrete actions we can take related to decent work. The participants (young trade-unionists, political and NGO activists explained what their organizations were currently doing (campagns, actions…) on this issue. A braod panorama. From Uganda to Sweden, from Belgium to Rwanda. From Russia to Latin America (and so one..). After this, the participants proposed some actions we can take together. Here are the main ideas that came out. These actions can be for all activists and organizations that participated to the youth action a follow-up and

- The organization of an international action day for decent work (two suggesions for the action day, 1st of May or 12th August, international youth day)
- Petition for Decent Work for Young people. The declaration adopted during the youth action can be the text of the petitions.
- Exchange of experiences and campaigns throught the decent work campaign
- Cross-boarders solidarity actions
- Raise awareness of migrants concerning their labour rights
- “Celebrity solidarity” awareness of decent work
- Add decent work to World Youth day agenda
- Encourage enforcement by unions / governments of decent work
- Lobby action for international organizations
- Make a mailing list of “Decent Work activists”.

These proposals should be discussed by the different organizations and implemented in the framework of the alliance for decent work.

The Youth action for Decent Work started this morning with the speeches of Guy Ryder, secretary general of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) and Josep Borell, president of the Global Progressive Forum. We are around 200 young people, coming from the labour movement, the civil society and progressive political forces. Just after the welcoming speeches, it is 4 young workers coming from different continents that spoke about the situation of employement and working conditions in their region. Guy spoke about the challenges to recruit more young people for the trade-unions. Not only a challenges for the trade-unions but also for political parties. “We have a lot of things to learn from the NGOs” said Guy. In the speech of Josep Borell, two points were important for me. The need to include the respect of labour standards in the negotiations of trade aggreements with the European Unions. And the links between migration and decent work.
I will try to put some pictures online during the day. More reports later. keep connected